“Stability in the region” and “counter-growing Chinese influence in South Asia” are the two United States pivots that might turn out to be instrumental in mending the India-Bangladesh relationship, which has kept spiralling downwards after the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year.
What Makes It Clear?
The US, in a strategic shift, has announced that it plans to supply defence systems to Bangladesh, after a government is formed, post the February 12 elections, “to counter China's increasing influence in the region."
“We (United States) are concerned about growing Chinese influence in South Asia,” US Ambassador to Bangladesh, Brent Christensen, has spoken to Reuters. He has said that the US was committed to working closely with the Bangladesh government to clearly communicate the risks of certain types of engagement with China.
Christensen has mentioned that the US offers a range of options to help Bangladesh meet its military capability needs, including US systems and those from the allied partners, “as an alternative to the Chinese systems.”
Stressing on bettering the ties between India and Bangladesh, which have turned sour after India's asylum to Hasina, Christensen said that President Donald Trump “wants to see a good relationship between Bangladesh and India to support stability in the region.”
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What Changed?
After the fall of Hasina in a Gen-Z led protests in August last year, China has moved ahead and signed a defence agreement with Bangladesh. The defence pact will allow China to build a drone factory near the Indian border.
Bangladesh is also talking to Pakistan to buy its JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, a multi-role combat aircraft developed in partnership with China, Reuters has reported.
Bangladesh Polls
Bangladesh will go to the polls on Thursday, Feb. 12, and a lot of this will depend on the outcome of the polls. Whether the new government is ready to engage with India as the US wants or not remains to be seen.
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